Flexible Protective Case for Firearms and Other Items

ABSTRACT

A protective cover for firearms is provided, the cover comprising a body formed from an injection molded elastomer material, such as a liquid silicone rubber (LSR), having a pair of flexible sides that are adapted to surround a selected firearm, the body having an integrated handle molded within the sides, and a water-proof zipper operatively connected between the sides and adapted to enable opening and closure of the protective cover. The sides include reinforced edges having a material thickness greater than the remainder of the cover. Preferably, the cover includes a butt end, an elongated barrel end, and an integral intermediate region, and further includes at least two strap clearance regions formed in the body adjacent the intermediate region for allowing access to and use of a firearm shoulder strap when the cover is installed.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON COMPACT DISC

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to flexible cases for protecting firearms and other items, and more particularly to such cases constructed from liquid silicone rubber and which conform to the shape of the item.

2. Description of Related Art

It has long been recognized by those familiar with firearms that a protective cover or case is ideal for safe transport and storage. It is important to keep dirt and dust away from sensitive internal moving parts, including firearm bolt and telescopic sight mechanisms. Firearm accuracy and reliability are directly related to weapon cleanliness and the overall care provided by the user. Thus adequate protection must be supplied. Gun cases protect the weapon from moisture and unwanted contaminants including dust and dirt, and also protect against marring or scratching.

In the prior art there are both “soft” cases and “hard” cases. Most soft cases are made of fabrics such as canvas or nylon. Many include thick foam padding to protect the gun, and others are able to float in water. Some cases are less sturdy and are made of nylon or the like and these can be folded for storage. This type of soft case provides very little protection upon any type of impact that may occur to the gun when carrying or transporting the gun. These soft cases have many advantages such as relative light weight and relative flexibility.

While driving to the hunting area adjacent a tree stand, for example, hunters often transport their firearm within a hard shell case. Upon arrival at the intended hunting location, the usual practice is for the hunter to leave the hard shell case behind. While in the field, hunters usually find that the larger and heavier hard shell cases are too bulky and too heavy to conveniently carry. However, firearm protection may still be needed in the field. For example, while walking through the woods to or from a deer stand through heavy brush, it is an advantage to cover the firearm to protect against inadvertent scratching or detrimental impact with obstacles such as tree branches and the like. Such encounters might damage the firearm or the expensive scope mounted upon it. Hunting guns are also subjected to the weather, and rain or snow can affect gun performance. This is especially true for those hunters who carry their weapons to and from their hunting sites on all-terrain vehicles (ATV's) using only a shoulder strap without a cover.

Even soft shell cases can be cumbersome though if they are difficult or tricky to remove. Once a hunter reaches his deer stand, for example, which often occurs in the early morning hours of almost total darkness, the case must easily be removed, and the process must be as quiet as possible.

Another problem with soft shell cases is that they are either too bulky for transport and storage in the field or too flimsy and delicate to provide protection from damage. Many of these soft cases lack simple design and are cumbersome, and therefore they cannot easily be removed from the firearm without creating unwanted noise and movement.

Other gun cases completely cover the weapon and its carrying strap, and they can be cumbersome to carry and difficult to get into. This fact can make it impossible to access the weapon quickly in the event of a sudden and/or unexpected opportunity during a trip to or from the hunt.

Given the foregoing, a soft-shell case with minimal volume and maximum ease of use would offer significant advantages to the hunter. If the fit is tight and non-obtrusive, such a soft shell case and be left on a firearm, if desired, while it is stored or transported within a hard shell case. Then once the gun is removed from the hard case and carried to the hunting location, such a soft shell case can remain deployed on the weapon without obstructing normal operation. Specifically, the carrying or shoulder strap of the enclosed rifle or shotgun should remain accessible for use, even when the gun is protected within the case. If the hunter decides to use the firearm without the case, it should easily be removed with a minimum of effort. Once removed, it should be easily stored within a backpack until needed again.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

For a further understanding of the nature, objects, and advantages of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description, read in conjunction with the following drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements.

FIG. 1 shows one embodiment of a protective case.

FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of a protective case for a firearm.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Before the subject invention is further described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the particular embodiments of the invention described below, as variations of the particular embodiments may be made and still fall within the scope of the appended claims. It is also to be understood that the terminology employed is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments, and is not intended to be limiting. Instead, the scope of the present invention will be established by the appended claims.

In this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural reference unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood to one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs.

Turning now to the figures, FIG. 1 depicts one embodiment of a protective case 1 which is not limited to firearms, but rather can be used to protect any object, such as electronics, computers, cameras, and other items. Most importantly, the case includes a body 2 formed from an injection molded elastomer material, including but not limited to liquid silicone rubber (LSR). The body includes a pair of flexible sides 3 that are adapted to surround an object, the body 2 also having an integrated handle 4 molded within the sides 3. A water-proof zipper 5 is operatively connected between the sides 3 and adapted to enable opening and closure of the protective cover. Preferably, the zipper 5 is bonded permanently to the LSR material in a manner understood to those in the art. The aforementioned materials and construction have a number of distinct advantages. First, permanent bonding of the zipper 5 requires no sewing, so there are no needle holes through which water may seep, and no need for the application of additional sealants during fabrication. The LSR material is also highly tolerant of temperature extremes in most typical usage environments, such as between −20 degrees and 120 degrees Fahrenheit, as well as far beyond such ranges. Furthermore, the material is UV-stable and exhibits high chemical resistance to oils, solvents, and similar substances that are common to firearm operation and maintenance. Another property of LSR is that it is scent-free, non-porous, and will not absorb odors—qualities which are important to deer hunters. Even so, the user may still apply scent-eliminating spray to the external surfaces of the LSR material without risking leakage to the interior of the case. These features in combination provide substantial advantages to hunters in environments where protection of the firearm and scent-free mobility are essential.

If desired, interior pockets 6 may also be formed into the sides 3 to carry related items. Typically, such pockets may be used to carry silica gel packets or other forms of desiccant to reduce moisture inside the case, which is particularly important for long-term storage to prevent oxidation (rusting) of metal parts. The case may be shaped to fit any desired object, especially in those instances where a form-fit is important.

Ideally, the sides include reinforced edges 7 having a material thickness greater than the remainder of the cover. For example, when the cover containing the object is placed on the ground, those surfaces which are in contact with the ground should be thicker than the remainder of the cover to withstand tearing or weakening of its protective features. For those situations in which a less flexible cover is desired, then the thickness of the sides and other components may be increased to accommodate the greater protective function. Conversely, if a thin and lightly protective cover is desired, particularly when a form-fit is to be achieved, then the thickness may be decreased to produce a “skin” whose primary function is protection from the elements and other chemicals and substances.

With reference to FIG. 2, a protective case 8 for firearms is shown, which includes a body 9 formed from an injection molded elastomer, such as a liquid silicone rubber (LSR) material, and having a pair of flexible sides 10 that are adapted to surround a selected firearm 11. Similar in some respects to FIG. 1, the body 9 preferably includes an integrated handle 12 molded within the sides 10, and a water-proof zipper 13 operatively connected between the sides 10 and adapted to enable opening and closure of the protective cover. In a preferred embodiment, the zipper 13 should extend from the muzzle of the firearm to the butt of the rear stock. Preferably, the sides 10 include reinforced edges having a material thickness greater than the remainder of the cover.

In this specific design, the cover includes a butt end 14, an elongated barrel end 15, and an integral intermediate region 16. As indicated previously herein, the shape and size of the cover can be constructed to suit any specific firearm, e.g. AR-15, AK-47, Mini 14, etc. At least two strap clearance regions 17 are formed in the body 9 adjacent the intermediate region 16 for allowing access to and use of a firearm shoulder strap 18 when the cover is installed. When firearms are not in use, they are often placed in a resting position on their rear stock. Therefore, it is preferred that the butt end 14 terminates in a reinforced edge.

Because the cover is intended to function as a form-fit protective case, it is desirable for the cover to have no reinforcing frame, such as seen in other prior art designs. In other words, such internal frames or similar features would detract from the cover's ability to function primarily as a “skin”. While not critical to the overall design and protective function of the cover, it is also an option to construct the cover to include a pigment that enables some camouflage, such as a green or brown color or even a camouflage pattern. Alternatively, or in addition to the patterns or pigments just described, the material may be translucent for viewing the contents of the case.

All references cited in this specification are herein incorporated by reference as though each reference was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. The citation of any reference is for its disclosure prior to the filing date and should not be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such reference by virtue of prior invention.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above. Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of the present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt it for various applications without omitting features that, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention set forth in the appended claims. The foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only; the scope of the present invention is to be limited only by the following claims. 

I claim:
 1. A protective cover for objects, the cover comprising: a body formed from an injection molded elastomer material, having a pair of flexible sides that are adapted to surround an object, the body having an integrated handle molded within the sides, and a water-resistant zipper operatively connected between the sides and adapted to enable opening and closure of the protective cover; wherein the sides include reinforced edges having a material thickness greater than the remainder of the cover.
 2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the elastomer material is a liquid silicone rubber.
 3. A protective cover for firearms, the cover comprising: a body formed from an injection molded elastomer material, having a pair of flexible sides that are adapted to surround a selected firearm, the body having an integrated handle molded within the sides, and a water-proof zipper operatively connected between the sides and adapted to enable opening and closure of the protective cover; wherein the sides include reinforced edges having a material thickness greater than the remainder of the cover; wherein the cover includes a butt end, an elongated barrel end, and an integral intermediate region; and at least two strap clearance regions formed in the body adjacent the intermediate region for allowing access to and use of a firearm shoulder strap when the cover is installed.
 4. The cover of claim 3, wherein the elastomer material is a liquid silicone rubber.
 5. The cover of claim 3, wherein the butt end terminates in a reinforced edge.
 6. The cover of claim 3, wherein the body has no reinforcing frame.
 7. The cover of claim 3, wherein the body includes a camouflage pattern. 